Quinvaxem vaccine not related to deaths among Vietnamese kids: investigation

HANOI, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) released a joint press announcement in Vietnam's capital Hanoi Friday, saying there is no connection between the Quinvaxem vaccine and possible deaths among children after vaccinated.

In the past year, death toll after Quinvaxem vaccination has increased to 10, mostly infants of several months-old, quoted the announcement, adding that this triggered worries among Vietnamese parents about the links between the deaths or undesirable responses in some children and the "five in one" Quinvaxem vaccine.

Upon Vietnamese government's request, WHO and UNICEF co- organized an investigation with international and national independent technical assistances. The report on result of the investigation is no evidence found between the safety of Quinvaxem and direct or indirect causes to deaths of children after vaccinated. The report is globally announced, according to the press release.

Quinvaxem is a South Korean-imported vaccine that protect children out of five deadly infectious diseases. Since being tested quality by WHO in 2006, 400 million vaccine doses have been used in 91 countries all over the world. The vaccine is recorded to be safe in use, said the press release.

HANOI, May 9 (Xinhua) -- The Vietnamese Ministry of Health instructed health centers across the country to suspend the use of Quinvaxem vaccine until the World Health Organization reports its final investigation conclusions, local media reported on Thursday.

The ministry released the instruction after local media reported that since November 2012, nine children died after receiving Quinvaxem vaccinations. Full story